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Wow, just Wow. Breathtaking prose, layer upon layer, and a story I couldn't anticipate. This glorious novel focuses on finding and making meaning out of our lives--and particularly out of our deaths. But it uses an unlikely protagonist--a young stagnant, underachieving, Iranian-American alcoholic who flits from job to job and relationship to relationship.
The first half of the book moved slowly for me, partly because the central character is so seemingly broken inside that he is difficult to like. But all of his ruminations and self-reflection and vulnerability caused me to care about him and his passions.
This book is utterly original and imaginative--with writing to die for. Shifting POV among the secondary characters creates a fully realized world. Deeply touching, poignant, and occasionally funny.
One of my favorite novels, ever. And a book I will revisit again and again--but never have the opportunity to experience that magic that is reading it for the first time.